The gastric properties of free-ranging harp (Pagophilus groenlandicus (Erxleben, 1777)) and hooded (Cystophora cristata (Erxleben, 1777)) seals
Abstract The study of trophic relationships in seals is based primarily on prey remains recovered from the digestive tract or scats. Basic data on the gastric properties of seals are scarce and are considered to be important to interpret data from dietary studies of these animals. Hence, we examined...
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Oxford University Press (OUP)
2004
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.icesjms.2004.01.002 http://academic.oup.com/icesjms/article-pdf/61/2/287/29159044/61-2-287.pdf |
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croxfordunivpr:10.1016/j.icesjms.2004.01.002 2023-05-15T15:59:52+02:00 The gastric properties of free-ranging harp (Pagophilus groenlandicus (Erxleben, 1777)) and hooded (Cystophora cristata (Erxleben, 1777)) seals Christiansen, Jørgen S. Gildberg, Asbjørn Nilssen, Kjell T. Lindblom, Charlotta Haug, Tore 2004 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.icesjms.2004.01.002 http://academic.oup.com/icesjms/article-pdf/61/2/287/29159044/61-2-287.pdf en eng Oxford University Press (OUP) ICES Journal of Marine Science volume 61, issue 2, page 287-292 ISSN 1095-9289 1054-3139 Ecology Aquatic Science Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Oceanography journal-article 2004 croxfordunivpr https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icesjms.2004.01.002 2023-02-10T11:26:11Z Abstract The study of trophic relationships in seals is based primarily on prey remains recovered from the digestive tract or scats. Basic data on the gastric properties of seals are scarce and are considered to be important to interpret data from dietary studies of these animals. Hence, we examined the key properties of the gastric chyme post mortem (i.e. temperature, acidity, and the concentration of the proteolytic enzyme pepsin) in free-ranging harp (Pagophilus groenlandicus, n=40) and hooded (Cystophora cristata, n=41) seals. Seals displayed huge inter-individual variations in their gastric properties with ranges in temperature: 23.9–37.9°C, acidity: pH 1.16–7.34, and pepsin concentration: 11–1059 μg ml−1 chyme. The stomach weight and the mean values of gastric parameters revealed, however, significant species-specific differences. The stomach weight relative to body weight of hooded seal exceeded that of harp seal (t=13.77, d.f.=75, p<0.001). Furthermore, the gastric temperature and pepsin concentration were lower for harp (32.8°C and 75 μg ml−1) compared to that for hooded (35.3°C and 344 μg ml−1) seal. The reason for this disparity may be linked to the feeding mode and diet composition displayed by these seal species. Article in Journal/Newspaper Cystophora cristata Harp Seal hooded seal Pagophilus groenlandicus Oxford University Press (via Crossref) ICES Journal of Marine Science 61 2 287 292 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Oxford University Press (via Crossref) |
op_collection_id |
croxfordunivpr |
language |
English |
topic |
Ecology Aquatic Science Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Oceanography |
spellingShingle |
Ecology Aquatic Science Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Oceanography Christiansen, Jørgen S. Gildberg, Asbjørn Nilssen, Kjell T. Lindblom, Charlotta Haug, Tore The gastric properties of free-ranging harp (Pagophilus groenlandicus (Erxleben, 1777)) and hooded (Cystophora cristata (Erxleben, 1777)) seals |
topic_facet |
Ecology Aquatic Science Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Oceanography |
description |
Abstract The study of trophic relationships in seals is based primarily on prey remains recovered from the digestive tract or scats. Basic data on the gastric properties of seals are scarce and are considered to be important to interpret data from dietary studies of these animals. Hence, we examined the key properties of the gastric chyme post mortem (i.e. temperature, acidity, and the concentration of the proteolytic enzyme pepsin) in free-ranging harp (Pagophilus groenlandicus, n=40) and hooded (Cystophora cristata, n=41) seals. Seals displayed huge inter-individual variations in their gastric properties with ranges in temperature: 23.9–37.9°C, acidity: pH 1.16–7.34, and pepsin concentration: 11–1059 μg ml−1 chyme. The stomach weight and the mean values of gastric parameters revealed, however, significant species-specific differences. The stomach weight relative to body weight of hooded seal exceeded that of harp seal (t=13.77, d.f.=75, p<0.001). Furthermore, the gastric temperature and pepsin concentration were lower for harp (32.8°C and 75 μg ml−1) compared to that for hooded (35.3°C and 344 μg ml−1) seal. The reason for this disparity may be linked to the feeding mode and diet composition displayed by these seal species. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Christiansen, Jørgen S. Gildberg, Asbjørn Nilssen, Kjell T. Lindblom, Charlotta Haug, Tore |
author_facet |
Christiansen, Jørgen S. Gildberg, Asbjørn Nilssen, Kjell T. Lindblom, Charlotta Haug, Tore |
author_sort |
Christiansen, Jørgen S. |
title |
The gastric properties of free-ranging harp (Pagophilus groenlandicus (Erxleben, 1777)) and hooded (Cystophora cristata (Erxleben, 1777)) seals |
title_short |
The gastric properties of free-ranging harp (Pagophilus groenlandicus (Erxleben, 1777)) and hooded (Cystophora cristata (Erxleben, 1777)) seals |
title_full |
The gastric properties of free-ranging harp (Pagophilus groenlandicus (Erxleben, 1777)) and hooded (Cystophora cristata (Erxleben, 1777)) seals |
title_fullStr |
The gastric properties of free-ranging harp (Pagophilus groenlandicus (Erxleben, 1777)) and hooded (Cystophora cristata (Erxleben, 1777)) seals |
title_full_unstemmed |
The gastric properties of free-ranging harp (Pagophilus groenlandicus (Erxleben, 1777)) and hooded (Cystophora cristata (Erxleben, 1777)) seals |
title_sort |
gastric properties of free-ranging harp (pagophilus groenlandicus (erxleben, 1777)) and hooded (cystophora cristata (erxleben, 1777)) seals |
publisher |
Oxford University Press (OUP) |
publishDate |
2004 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.icesjms.2004.01.002 http://academic.oup.com/icesjms/article-pdf/61/2/287/29159044/61-2-287.pdf |
genre |
Cystophora cristata Harp Seal hooded seal Pagophilus groenlandicus |
genre_facet |
Cystophora cristata Harp Seal hooded seal Pagophilus groenlandicus |
op_source |
ICES Journal of Marine Science volume 61, issue 2, page 287-292 ISSN 1095-9289 1054-3139 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icesjms.2004.01.002 |
container_title |
ICES Journal of Marine Science |
container_volume |
61 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
287 |
op_container_end_page |
292 |
_version_ |
1766395770074824704 |